Carrier for Hamster Ball

ABSTRACT

The current disclosure is directed to a carrier for an exercise ball for rodents and other small animals that are kept as pets. This plastic carrier allows the carrying and setting up of stationary, 360 degree, or omnidirectional spin of the exercise ball within a compact ring form factor. The carrier is intended for recreational use in the home, in backyards, or in pet friendly parks.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Provisional application No. 62/972,584, filed on Feb. 10, 2020

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The current disclosure is directed to a carrier for exercise balls forrodents and other small animals that are kept as pets. When comes tocages and transport systems for hamsters and other small rodents, thereare several options available that miniaturize the larger in-home petenvironments and are designed to be more manageable on the go. Applicantbelieves that improvements can be made in terms of at least one of thetypes of novelty methods produced and the efficiencies gained for acarrier for a hamster ball. It is to at least one of these, oradditional problems that the current disclosure is directed.

SUMMARY

By way of summary, the current disclosure is directed to a carrier foran exercise ball for rodents and other small animals that are kept aspets. This plastic carrier allows the carrying and setting up ofstationary, 360 degree, or omnidirectional spin of the exercise ballwithin a compact ring form factor. The carrier is intended forrecreational use in the home, in backyards, or in pet friendly parks. Ione embodiment, the hamster ball attaches to the orbital ring throughretractable inserts that allows the ball to rotate in only onedirection. In yet another embodiment, the inner side of the ring islined with ball bearings which allow the pet to spin freely at alltimes. When placed on the ground with the accompanying exercise ballaffixed, the pet can experience 180 degrees of rotation along thecircumference of the ring. Detachable legs allow for vertical,stationary set up of the carrier. When placed on ground with theexercise ball attached and the accompanying leg attachments, the pet canexperience omnidirectional spin. Hinges allows for easy insertion andremoval of the exercise ball from the carrier.

In yet another embodiment, the carrier body consists of two parts thatsnap together to securely hold the exercise ball. It is novel in respectthat no similar product exists on the market. The carrier shape isunique and iconic, similar to a “Saturn ring” with a handle cut-out. Theshape is a very compact while allowing for the secure transportation ofa sphere. A pet can run around freely in the accompanying exercise ballwhile being carried because the carrier uses ball bearings along innerside of the rings that allow ball to spin freely while in the carrier.The carrier can be propped up using detachable leg accessories, allowingpet to run freely while carrier is stationary. The detachable legs arestored inside ring when not in use. When carrier is placed on groundwithout leg attachments, rodent can spin 360 degrees along outercircumference of the ring.

Applicant believes that improvements have been made in terms of at leastone of the types of novelty methods produced and the efficiencies gainedfor a hamster exercise ball carrier. It is to at least one of these, oradditional problems that the current disclosure is directed.

Other examples will be set forth in more detail in the figures anddetailed description below. The current disclosure is also directed tomethods of adaptation and use. It will be apparent; however, that thedetailed description is not intended to limit the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings form part of this specification and theinvention will be better understood by a reading of the DetailedDescription of the Examples of the Invention along with a review of saiddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates the compact ‘Saturn-Ring’ form carrier.

FIG. 2 illustrates the ‘Saturn-Ring’ form carrier with an accompanyingexercise ball.

FIG. 3 illustrates the retractable pivot pin that secures the hamsterexercise ball to the carrier

FIG. 4 illustrates the fixed pivot pin

FIG. 5 illustrates the front and edge views of the compact ‘Saturn-Ring’form carrier with an accompanying exercise ball attached.

FIG. 6 illustrates the form carrier assembled with the detachable legaccessories, allowing mobility of the pet while the form carrier isstationary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the Hamster Ball Carrier 101 designed to providerodents a vehicle for safe exercise, as well as safe and convenienttravel. The Carrier consists of two housings 102 making up the ring. TheCarrier also consists of a Handle feature 108 and storage for a pair ofdetachable legs 107. The inner circumference of the ring is designed toaccommodate hamster exercise ball sizes of about 5 inches to about 13inches in diameter. The carrier may be made from any number of polymerplastics.

FIG. 2 illustrates the carrier and an accompanying hamster exercise ball110. The carrier is designed to accept a hamster exercise ball 110 whichcan then rotate 360 degrees on a single axis consisting of two PivotPins, one retracting pivot pin 104 and one fixed pivot Pin 105. Theexercise ball is attached to the carrier by aligning the hole 106 onepoint along the equator of the exercise ball to the fixed Pivot Pin 105of the carrier, while sliding the slide latch 103 and retracting theretractable pivot pin 105.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the retractable pin mechanism 112 and the fixedpivot pin 105. The retractable pivot pin 104 uses a spring mechanism 109to maintain the retractable pin 112 in the extended position. The slidelatch 103 is connected to the retractable pin 112 which allows the userto retract it during installation of the exercise pall 110. I oneembodiment, the exercise ball attaches to the orbital ring throughretractable inserts that allow the exercise ball to rotate 360 degreesin only one direction. Detachable legs allow for omnidirectional spin ofthe exercise ball while the carrier stands upright and stationaryaffixed to the legs on a flat surface. Hinges allow for easy insertionand removal of ball from carrier.

FIG. 5 illustrates the carrier used in the transport configuration 114with the legs 107 stowed on the housing and the exercise ball 110affixed in the carrier. In another embodiment, the inner side of thering is lined with ball bearings which allow omnidirectional spin. Whenplaced on ground rodent can spin 360 degrees along outer circumferenceof the ring.

FIG. 6 illustrates the carrier used in the stationary exerciseconfiguration 115. In this configuration, the legs 107 are positioned inthe leg retaining features 113. This allows the exercise ball to freelyspin 360 degrees alone one axis while affixed to the carrier while thecarrier remains stationary on a stable surface 116.

Insofar as the description above and the accompanying drawings discloseany additional subject matter that is not within the scope of the claimsbelow, the inventions are not dedicated to the public and the right tofile one or more applications to claim such additional inventions isreserved.

What is claimed is:
 1. A carrier for an exercise hamster ballcomprising: a ring, a handle molded between the radius of the innerouter surfaces, a pair of legs that are detachable from the outersurface of the ring, and a molding for attaching the legs between theradius of the inner and outer surfaces positioned away from the handle.2. The carrier of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the inner surface ofthe ring is about 5 inches to about 13 inches in diameter.
 3. Thecarrier of claim 1, wherein the exercise ball is affixed to the carrierutilizing a fixed pin and a retractable pin opposite the fixed pinwherein the exercise ball is able to rotate 360 degrees on the axiscreated by the retractable and the fixed pins.
 4. The carrier of claim1, wherein the carrier contains a plurality of ball bearings affixed tothe inner surface of the ring wherein the exercise ball is affixed tothe carrier and is able to rotate in an omnidirectional fashion.
 5. Acarrier for an exercise hamster ball comprising: a ring, a handle moldedbetween the radius of the inner outer surfaces; two legs that aredetachable from the outer surface of the ring; and a molding forattaching the legs between the radius of the inner and outer surfacespositioned away from the handle; having a diameter of the inner surfaceof the ring of about 5 inches to about 13 inches, wherein the exerciseball is affixed to the carrier utilizing a fixed pin and a retractablepin opposite the fixed pin wherein the exercise ball is able to rotate360 degrees on the axis created by the retractable and the fixed pins,wherein the carrier contains a plurality of ball bearings affixed to theinner surface of the ring wherein the exercise ball is affixed to thecarrier and is able to rotate in an omnidirectional fashion.